Carlene has always gone above and beyond to promote her patients' healing. When she was a PCA in oncology, she would cook meals for patients to help encourage their appetite. She has pursued leadership training, which helped her to see the implications of being a nurse, and "open my eyes to what I was embarking on." She is a team player, as well as a patient advocate, saying that she is never alone in nursing: "Nursing is a TEAM, and I feel like I am a member of a team." This feeling has only grown throughout her career, Carlene says - while working during the height of the AIDS virus in the '90's, Carlene said that she loved being a part of a team of care and healing, even when the details about the virus were uncertain.
When asked to reflect on how she feels about being a nurse, and the career path that she took and hopes to take in the future, and as a DAISY honoree, Carlene said, "I have no regrets about my career path, I could not envision myself doing anything else."